1. “Public-Private Partnerships Leading to Initiation of Business Incubators” was conducted at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo, Japan on 27^th September 2018 linking academia and industry with the aim of developing innovative value-added natural products, nutraceuticals, patented products and paving the way for the cutting-edge technology to delay the progression of brain aging and metabolic disorders on collaboration with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJP) and the industrial sector, thus entering into the International markets.

Mr.Samantha Wijesekara, Ms.Sachiyo Iwase, Dr. Sunil Kaul, BMRI International Coordinator, DAILAB (DBT-AIST International Laboratory), Dr.Renu Wadhwa, Prime Senior Researcher, Lab Leader, DAILAB (DBT-AIST International Laboratory), Members Business Council& Prof. Ranil De Silva, Journalists, and Industrialists.

2. Guest Talk on “Private Public People Partnerships (P4) for Research and Innovation Start-ups: Avenues with Sri Lankan Unique Resources” at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science (AIST), Japan: [07th Innovation Centre worldwide].

Uplifting the vision of the government in fostering public-private partnerships and incubator centers which lies towards local fields that support innovation by prioritizing inter-disciplinary studies using Sri Lankan natural products (i.e Ceylon Cinnamon, White Tea, Turmeric, Ginger, Lemon Grass, etc.), leading to the development of nutraceuticals / functional foods combining nutrigenomics which will ultimately contribute to national, social and academic development, thereby establishing international collaborations and public-private partnerships for research and innovation startups.

New gateways for funded internship opportunities for postgraduate students of USJP were unlocked at this event.

Left Image-From Left: Dr. Renu Wadhwa, Prime Senior Researcher, Dr. Sunil Kaul, BMRI International Coordinator, & Prof. Ranil De Silva, Right Image-Prof. Ranil De Silva addressing the Guest Seminar

Memorandum of Understanding signed between National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) (7th Innovation Centre in the world) Tsukuba, Japan, and USJP on the 19th April 2016 as a result of long-standing academic collaborations between Dr. Sunil Kaul, Chief Senior Researcher at AIST and Prof. Ranil de Silva, USJP paved the way for this initiation.(https://www.sjp.ac.lk/event/mou-signing-ceremony-on-trilateral-collaboration-between-japan-india-and-sri-lanka/)

Left Image-From Left: Prof. Ranil De Silva, Dr. Sunil Kaul, Dr. Renu Wadhwa, Prime Senior Researcher, Center Image-Prof. Ranil De Silva at DAILAB, Right Image-Prof Ranil de Silva At AIST Robot Innovation Research center

The AIST Robot Innovation Research Center analyzes a target industry if robotics can contribute to innovating it, develops a protocol for evaluating the benefit and safety of the applied robotic devices, and examines the results of the application by storing and analyzing the logs of the robot task. AIST is a renowned pioneer in the area of industrial automation

3. Discussion with United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan on sustainable development focused on biodiversity and education programme with Ms. Ayako Shimura the programme coordinator for the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Programme on 27 September 2018.

The discussion was regarding the Applying for the membership of ProsPER.Net, the alliance of leading universities in the Asia Pacific region that are committed to integrating sustainable development into postgraduate courses and curricula.

From Left: Ms. Ayako Shimura, programme coordinator for the Education for Sustainable  Development (ESD) Programme, Prof. Ranil De Silva

4. Prof. De Silva addressed the General Assembly, Asian Association of Neuropathology (ASNP) on 25^th September 2018 at ICN 2018, Title: “Banking the Brain & Blood, Opportunities & meaning for the future – A Sri Lankan Experience” , the talk paved the way for the one and only “Brain Bank’ and Bio-repository of DNA/Gene Bank in Sri Lanka ;One of the largest bio-banks in South Asia to open up to the world leading to link with other organizations all around the world.

Left Image-Speech at ASNP General Assembly on 25^th September 2018 on “Banking the Brain & Blood, Opportunities & meaning for the future – A Sri Lankan Experience, Right Image-ASNP General Assembly

5. Prof. De Silva chaired the Post – ICN 2018 International Brain Bank Symposium at the Brain Bank for Aging Research (BBAR) on 28 September 2018 at Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital & Institute of Gerontology (TMGHIG). The meeting paved the way for initiation of Brain Bank Network in Asia with successful discussions among the participants. The initiation of the two years funded training programme for applicants with MD Pathology/ Neuropathology and Ph.D. Neuropathology was successfully accomplished at the aforementioned event.

Left Image-From Left: Prof. Ranil De Silva, Prof.Shigeo Murayama, Chairman, Department of Neurology and Bioresource Center (Brain Bank for Aging Research) at Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology and Other participants, Right Image-Prof. Shigeo Murayama addressing the Post- ICN session and Prof. Ranil De Silva chairing the session

Prof. Shigeo Murayama, and Prof. Ranil De Silva

Prof. Ranil De Silva, Principal Investigator, Genetic Diagnostic & Research Laboratory and Human Brain Tissue and DNA Repository, Director, World Class University Project, USJP is attending 19th International Congress of Neuropathology (ICN 2018) in conjunction with the 4^th Asian Congress of Neuropathology, the 59th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology and the 36th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Brain Tumor Pathology with the aim of  raising awareness on Neuropathology, in Tokyo, Japan from 23^rd to 27^th September 2018. The Congress has been concluded successfully and around 900 participants from over 40 countries around the globe attended the event.